ES2389523T3 - Hairdressing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Hairdressing apparatus comprising: - at least one heating part (3) that comes into contact with the hair by means of a facing support part (2), - a frame (1) comprising at least two arms (9,10 ), being pushed towards each other at rest the parts that are held together inside the fixed frame (1) characterized in that - at least one of the parts is mounted floating with respect to the respective arm (9, 10) using means of suspension (5), - and because the apparatus comprises means for automatically introducing (7) the hair between the heating part (3) and the supporting part (2).

Description

Hairdressing apparatus

The present invention concerns a hairdressing or hair conditioning apparatus comprising a handle attached to a support part and a heating part between which a hair wick can be inserted, more particularly to an apparatus comprising a device intended to exert pressure on the wick of hair to be treated.

Most hair conditioning devices, such as straighteners, curling irons, embossing irons, comprise a handle that supports two mechanical elements of which at least one is heated, the other being provided to carry the hair in contact with the former, especially from an opening position that allows the insertion of the hair to a closed position for contact with the heating part. The passage from the opening to the closing position is carried out manually by pressing an opening lever of a hair pressure tab or by pressing two articulated arms of the apparatus towards the other to bring the heating part into contact with the hair. The problem posed by these devices is that they require the user to exert an effort to move from the open state to the closed state of the device or vice versa in order to put the hair in contact with the conditioning means, the effort being much greater as it It must be exercised continuously to keep the device closed for the entire duration of the treatment.

In JP2005-087629 a solution has been proposed that describes a curling iron comprising two articulated arms, intended to move from the open state to the closed state and vice versa, each arm comprising an electric heating element mounted in thermal contact with a plate of smoothing On the other hand, the apparatus comprises two magnetic closures each composed of a magnet and a facing magnetic piece attracted by the magnet to keep the apparatus in a closed position after the introduction of a wick of hair between the straightening plates. On the other hand, an unlocking device is provided to separate the plates at the end of the treatment and to be able to introduce a new wick to be treated. The problem encountered with this apparatus is that, by pivoting its arms around an axis of rotation away from the treatment part, it does not ensure a uniform contact pressure on the hair. In addition, its opening requires a supplementary opening device, which complicates the construction of the apparatus and makes its handling less easy.

US4479047 and FR2600509 describe hair conditioning apparatus inserted between a heating part and a support part, the apparatus being closed at rest. However, these devices resort to opening control devices that are not only complex, but also involve additional manipulation of the control device. More particularly, in the apparatus of document FR2600509, a spring-mounted ring must be displaced in longitudinal sliding so as to be able to release the pivoting arms transversely to open a hair insertion gap between the treatment parts.

Document US6191387 describes in turn a straightening device provided with two heating skates fixed to the end of two handle arms mounted with springs, the apparatus being open in the rest position. Certainly, this apparatus ensures a rapid introduction of the hair between the heating skates, but this must be carried and kept closed by the person who uses it during the entire straightening operation, which has the disadvantage of the discomfort in use and the application of a non-constant and non-uniform pressure on the hair to be treated.

The objective of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and propose a hairdressing apparatus suitable for a correct, uniform and long-lasting conditioning of the hair, while being quick to use and easy to operate.

Another object of the invention is an effective hairdressing apparatus while being able to reduce the time of hair treatment.

Another object of the invention is to propose a small volume hairdressing apparatus, suitable for adapting to the thickness of the wick to be treated, while being reliable and easy to handle.

Another object of the invention is a hairdressing apparatus that is effective, of simplified structure, compact and that can be industrialized at low cost.

These objectives are achieved with a hairdressing apparatus comprising the technical characteristics of claim 1.

Such a hairdressing apparatus allows the hair present between a heating part and a support part to be treated by heat (these parts forming the hair conditioning means), bringing the support part in contact with the heating part to obtain So its conditioning. Each heating and support part is mounted on one of the arms or jaws of the device housing, the device generally comprising two

arms, or, in a variant, may comprise several heating parts that cooperate with a support part, for example of the three-arm clamp type. At least the heating part or the support part are mounted floating with respect to the respective arm or jaw of the apparatus box in order to be able to separate more or less from each other and adapt to different thicknesses of a hair wick and to the thickness variations of a wick, and this throughout the entire useful length of the treatment parts. By floating assembly of a part with respect to its box arm or with respect to a facing treatment part, a mounting with clearance and possibility of displacement is understood, under the thrust of solicitation means (for example elastic, magnetic, etc. ) when the part is subjected to an effort, in a direction opposite to that on which the effort is exerted. In this case, the effort being exerted by the hair wick, the treatment parts will move apart to compensate for the thickness of the introduced wick. A floating assembly of this type leaves one or several degrees of freedom to the support part, the heating part, or both, when both are floating.

According to the invention, the heating and support parts are held together in a fixed frame in a closed position at rest, the apparatus comprising means for automatic hair insertion between these treatment parts. The floating mounted part is pushed by the force of the suspension means in the direction of the facing part, the facing parts are mounted so that they touch each other at the level of their contact surfaces with the hair, or that they present a small clearance ( approximately 1 mm) at the level of these contact surfaces with the hair, even in the absence of hair. By means of automatic hair insertion between the treatment parts, a flared throat is understood at the front end of the treatment parts by which a wick of hair can be introduced by guiding it with one hand so that the thickness of the wick separates the treatment parts that are facing.

Thus, the user easily inserts the hair inside the apparatus, directing them with the help of the automatic insertion means between the treatment parts, then separating one of the treatment parts or both to allow the hair wick to penetrate, to the time that keeps her in touch with the part of treatment faced. The introduction of the hair into the apparatus is therefore done in a natural way, the treatment parts being separated adapting to the wick thickness and the treatment is carried out without the user having to exert the least pressure effort on the treatment parts. or its supports, having to do this only by naturally sliding the apparatus along the wick taken, from the root and towards the tip of the hair.

An apparatus of this type is of an easy and intuitive use, therefore it allows an effortless treatment, with more freedom for the person who uses it, not being obliged to support to maintain a pressure on the hair and, at the same time , is capable of absorbing the thickness variability of the hair wick introduced inside the floating conditioning means and therefore transmitting the calories completely to the hair wick to be treated, regardless of its variable thickness. Thus, such an apparatus exerts a constant and constant pressure on a wick of hair, regardless of the person using it. The result is a faster conditioning of the hair (there is no need to return on the untreated parts correctly during the first pass), of uniform appearance and lasting over time.

Preferably, said frame comprises at least two substantially parallel arms joined together on one of its extremities, the heating and / or the floating support part being mounted in translation in a direction transverse to that of the longitudinal axis of the frame.

Such a U-shaped frame configuration already allows easy introduction of the hair with the open part of the U, while supporting the conditioning parts each in one of the parallel arms of the U, being joined together at its base , all in a reduced volume and for a frame that has a good rigidity. This frame can also support the box that covers it externally or can at the same time constitute the device box. In another variant, this frame may have several parallel arms, for example three or four, in order to thus constitute several heating or support surfaces, which may be intended for example for the simultaneous treatment of several wicks.

A floating assembly of the heating and / or support part could, of course, be made by attaching them to its support with at least one pivot or ball joint type, which allows them to rotate along one or more axes of the frame. It is preferred, however, to join them with a sliding type joint that authorizes them to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the box, allowing them to better adapt to the thickness of an extended wick over the useful length of the heating parts, respectively of support, than to its They are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the box.

Advantageously, the means for introducing the hair are formed in the extension of the heating part and / or of the support part.

These means of introduction at the end of the frame or the box of the apparatus could have been carried out, certainly, extending them to the level of the treatment parts. For ease of insertion of the hair between two facing treatment parts, however, it is preferred to carry out the means of introduction in the prolongation of the treatment parts. These introduction means can then be made in the form of an introduction surface of the hair that widens outwardly according to a circle arc, of

chamfer or bevel shape, preferably an arched or rounded chamfer, or resulting from a portion of the cylinder and having substantially the same width as the treatment surface with which it cooperates.

Preferably, said frame is attached to a handle comprising a longitudinal axis and the means for introducing the hair are arranged at the opposite end of the handle, to one and another part of its longitudinal axis.

This configuration of an elongated device with a handle in the extension of the support frame of the treatment parts is more ergonomic and allows easy handling of the device. The arrangement of the means for introducing the hair symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus allows an even easier, almost automatic insertion of the hair inside the treatment parts, thus being able to take the hair as close as possible from its root This arrangement is more particularly suited to the variant embodiment in which the heating part and the support part are mounted floating with respect to the fixed frame.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said suspension means are related to the strength of a magnetic field.

Thus, in laboratory tests, it has been surprisingly found that such a floating assembly allowed the part subjected to the displacement by the magnetic field to adapt very rigorously to the smaller thickness of hair wick that is inserted between the parts heating and support facing. This adaptation is made without the slightest mechanical loss due to friction, blockages, manufacturing tolerances of the components (the geometric construction defects being absorbed by this floating magnet assembly), etc.

In a first variant embodiment, the support part comprises at least one permanent magnet and the heating part is at least partly made of a magnetic material.

In accordance with this variant of the invention, the heating part is loosely mounted and can be moved in the direction of the support plate to adapt to the thickness of the wick introduced between the two. In a variant of this mode, the heating part can be provided with magnets and the support part is made of a magnetic material and mounted with the possibility of displacement with respect to the first. By magnetic material is understood a material that can be attracted by a magnet, of the type comparable to iron or ferromagnetic, for example in a ferrous alloy, nickel-based or cobalt-based. A hairdressing apparatus made in accordance with this mode has a simplified structure and is of a very economical embodiment, one or the other of the parts, including both, being able to move.

In a second variant of embodiment of the invention, the support part comprises at least a first permanent magnet that cooperates with a second permanent magnet facing the heating part mounted in phase opposition to the first.

The heating part is mounted loosely in its housing provided inside its case and moves towards the support part when the distance between the facing magnets allows the magnetic field to exert its force, although in a variant the other part could be mounted loosely, or each of the parts could be mounted floating with respect to its case. The use of the opposing magnets allows to exert significant efforts on the hair, the effort being able to be regulated, on the other hand, by adjusting the separation between the magnets. Such construction of magnets facing each other in phase opposition (it is understood that the opposite poles are facing each other) allows to create a magnetic field by attraction between the conditioning means, which makes it possible to bring contact and / or maintain the conditioning means against each other. .

In a third variant embodiment of the invention, the support part or the heating part comprise a first permanent magnet that cooperates with a second permanent magnet facing the frame, the second permanent magnet being mounted in phase with the first.

In this variant, the part comprising the magnets is float supported by the magnets in phase of the box-forming frame. Due to this, the magnetic field is enclosed inside the device box, without influencing the treatment area that is in contact with the hair. In addition, the magnets thus arranged are far from the treatment surfaces, therefore less subject to temperature, which improves their service life.

In another embodiment of the invention, said suspension means are elastic means.

This construction has the advantage of being more economical, being the elastic means helical springs, sheets, torsion, etc., parts of a deformable material, for example rubber skates, etc.

Advantageously, said suspension means are arranged substantially at the level of each end of the support part or of the heating part.

This makes it possible to better distribute the hair tightening effort along the treatment surface and apply a uniform force over this entire surface.

Preferably, the support part is heating.

This allows to obtain a conditioning of the hair, because it is treated by heat simultaneously with the two treatment surfaces facing each other, that of the heating part and that of the facing support part.

In a variant embodiment of the apparatus, the support part or the heating part has a flat or wavy hair treatment surface.

An apparatus of this type is more particularly intended for hair straightening, so that the hair can be straightened between a flat treatment surface and a warped surface or a edge of the support surface or between two flat treatment surfaces, that of the heating part and that of the support surface. In a variant, one of the treatment surfaces is corrugated and cooperates with a facing treatment surface that has a complementary shape so that it forces the hair during the passage between these two treatment surfaces.

Preferably, guiding means of the heating part or of the support part are arranged according to an average plane perpendicular to the plane of the hair treatment surface or to one and another part of this plane.

Such guiding means may be means of translation or rotation and, when these are arranged according to an average plane of the treatment surface or to one and another part of this medium plane, they ensure the application of a uniform effort over the entire treatment surface and, consequently, the hair to be treated.

In another variant embodiment of the apparatus, the heating part has a hair treatment surface that has a revolution shape and the support part has a treatment plate that adapts to the shape of the heating part.

Such a form of revolution can be a cylinder or a cone, then allowing the treatment surface to curl by winding the hair around the axis of the treatment surface, while keeping them against this surface by the support surface. In a variant, the heating part is in contact with two supporting parts in a complementary manner located on both sides of its longitudinal axis.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises radial guide means of the support part.

When the floating support part is mounted, its radial guide with respect to the cylindrical or conical heating part facing allows the application of a uniform pressure on the wick to be treated and, therefore, a better contact with the winding heating surface of the hair, in the entire length of the latter. This radial guide can be a guide in rotation or in translation.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises control means for sending steam at the level of at least one of the heating or support parts.

Thus, the apparatus comprises means of controlling the arrival of steam at the level of the hair that is between the parts: heating and support. Thus, a fixed or closed frame apparatus of this type can be advantageously used to send the steam production sent below on the hair to carry out its conditioning with the help of steam, this thanks to the fact that it is no longer necessary to exert pressure on the arms of the box to keep the treatment parts in contact, the user can then press a control button to send steam in the direction of the hair.

Preferably, the control means act on the steam producing means of the apparatus comprising a water reservoir connected by a conduit to a vaporization chamber that flows through steam outlets at the level of the treatment surface of the heating part .

The steam production means could have been external to the apparatus and connected to the latter by a flexible conduit, however, it is preferred, for more compactness, to integrate them into the apparatus and send them with the handle.

Advantageously, the apparatus of the invention comprises means for regulating the force of the suspension means.

This allows the support force of a part or the conditioning parts to be adapted to the type of hair to be treated, thus reducing the effort applied to the hair, the sensation of treatment felt by the user and also ensuring better protection of the hair. Thus, in laboratory tests, it has been found that an important force should be applied rather to thick and robust hair, and that this should be less on fine and delicate hair. The regulating means can be mechanical means, which use for example a regulating screw or cams that move the magnet in the space of its housing, or that compress the elastic means, and thus allow to vary the distance between the treatment parts faced. In one of their positions

limit, the regulating means can constitute disengagement means that ensure the opening of the plates normally in contact.

The invention will be better understood with the study of the embodiments taken to be limited in any way and illustrated in the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 a is an axial sectional view of the apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention made with the cutting plane A-A of Figure 1 b which is a front view of this apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the preceding figures, the upper part of its case being omitted for clarity;

Figure 3a is an axial sectional view of an apparatus according to an embodiment variant of the invention represented in working position, Figure 3b being a similar view showing the apparatus of Figure 3a in rest position;

Figure 4a is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus according to another variant embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, Figure 4b is a sectional view taken with the plane B-B of Figure 4a.

The hairdressing apparatus represented in Figures 1 a and 1 b is a straightening iron comprising a box in two parts, especially a top shell 21 and a bottom shell 22 symmetrical. The shells 21, 22 are made of a plastic material by an injection technique, the rear part of which is a handle 4 extended towards the front by a receiving and supporting part of the hair conditioning means, especially a support part 2 and a heating part 3. The heating part 3 can be heated electrically, or with gas, with steam, etc. The heating part 3 comprises on its outer face intended for contact with the hair a treatment surface 18 which has a general rectangular shape made of a thermally conductive material, being polished, possibly covered by an enamel, by a ceramic material, by a layer glass, etc. The support part 2 can be a simple metal plate comprising, on its outer face, intended for contact with the hair, a treatment surface 17 having a generally polished rectangular shape, possibly covered by an enamel, a ceramic material, a glass layer, etc. In the examples shown in the figures, the support part 2 is made in the same way as the heating part 3 and can also contribute calories to the hair wick to be treated.

As best seen in Figure 2, the support parts 2 and heater 3 have a general parallelepipedic shape and are each made in the form of a supported module 29, that of the support part 2 by the upper shell 21 (omitted in Fig. 2) and that of the heating part 3 by the lower shell 22 of the box. Each module 29 comprises on its two parallel lateral sides a mounting and guide rib 24 in a rail 25 (see Fig. 1b) present on its two parallel lateral sides of the casings 21 and 22 of the box. The rails 25 of the upper casing 21 and the rails 25 of the lower casing 22 are parallel to each other and ensure a parallel assembly of the supporting parts 2 and heater 3. A stop shaft 26 that slides in a groove 27 allows blocking in the longitudinal direction of each module 29 after assembly.

In the examples shown in the figures, the module 29 of the support parts 2 and heater 3 comprises a plate 30 of generally parallelepipedic shape having an internal cavity 32 that encloses an electric heating element 31, for example a resistive heating element, of CTP, infrared emission, etc. The heating element 31 of each part is in thermal contact with the plate 30, being fixed against the bottom wall of the plate 30 forming treatment surface 17, respectively 18 of each treatment part in order to transmit the calories in full to the hair What to try The internal cavity 32 is closed by a spaced upper wall of the heating element. The plate 30 is mounted inside a plug 33 which covers it in all its contour, except the sole that forms a treatment surface 17 for the support part 2, respectively 18 for the heating part 3.

According to the invention, the module 29 is mounted floatingly by means of suspension means 5 in a fixed frame 1 of the housing of the apparatus. In the examples shown in the figures, the frame 1 is constituted by the box, made, in turn, by the assembly of the shells 21 and 22 using for example fixing screws 23 and nuts (not visible in the drawings). The frame 1, as seen in longitudinal section, has a U-shape, comprising two parallel arms 9 and 10 arranged on both sides of a longitudinal axis Y, extending at the rear by an elongated part that forms a handle 4 , the two arms being joined by the screw assembly at the level of the handle 4.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, each arm 9 and 10 has a U-shaped cross-section that allows a module 29 to appear to which it supports floating. In the variant illustrated in Figures 1a, 1b and 2, the floating assembly of the modules 29 in the frame 1 is done using a magnetic field of several pairs of permanent magnets mounted in phase. Thus, the upper arm 9 of the frame 1 comprises two permanent magnets 15 fixedly mounted in cavities made in the inner face of the arm 9. The magnets 15 have a cylindrical shape and are arranged so that their axis is contained in the middle plane of the box. The magnets 15 are oriented with their north pole towards the outside of the cavity. The module 29 associated with the arm 9 comprises, in turn, two magnets

permanent 14 fixed mounted in cavities made in the upper face of the cap 33. The magnets 14 have the same shape and dimensions as the magnets 15 and are also arranged so that their axis is contained in the middle plane of the box. The magnets 14 are oriented with their north pole towards the outside, facing the north pole of the magnets 15. In the same way, the lower arm 10 of the frame 1 comprises two permanent magnets 15 fixedly mounted in cavities made in the inner face of the arm 10, the cylindrical magnets 15 being arranged with their axis contained in the middle plane of the box and oriented with its north pole towards the outside. The module 29 associated with the arm 10 in turn comprises two permanent magnets 14 fixedly mounted in cavities made in the lower face of the cap 33, which have the same shape and dimensions as the magnets 15 and are also arranged so that their axis is contained in the middle plane of the box and being oriented with its north pole facing outward facing the north pole of the magnets 15.

The magnets 14, 15 of each pair are arranged at a distance from each other and repel each other. Due to this, the parts: heater 3 and support 2 are pushed towards each other and are touched at the level of their treatment surfaces 18 and 17, these can be pushed towards the rear, against the force of the magnetic field, by the hair to be treated inserted between parts 2 and 3. The displacement of each of the parts 2, respectively 3 with respect to the frame 1 is allowed thanks to the loose fitting of each module 29, especially being able to move its nerve 24 vertically in the rail 25 of each of the arms 9 and 10. In the example shown, the magnets 14, 15 have a diameter of approximately 5 mm, a height of approximately 2 mm and can be arranged at a distance between 1 mm and 5 mm relative to each other. The magnets 14, 15 are made for example by sintering a neodymium iron boron or cobalt samarium powder and have a good temperature resistance.

According to another important feature of the invention, the apparatus comprises means for introducing the hair 7 between the heating part 3 and the support part 2. In the example shown in Figures 1 a, 1 b and 2, the introduction means 7 of the hair are made in the extension of the treatment surfaces 17, respectively 18 in the form of an inwardly curved introduction surface. In this example, each module 29 comprises an attack part 34 that protrudes with respect to the frame 1, the internal surface of the attack part 34 forming an arched chamfer 35 leading the hair to the level of the treatment surface of a plate 30. More particularly, the tangent to the rounded profile of the arched chamfer 35 at the level of its union with the plate 30 is at the same level and in the extension of the treatment surfaces 17,18. Thus, two arched chamfers 35 facing each other form a chalice that allows the hair to be oriented at the level of the union of the treatment plates.

In operation, after bringing the device to a temperature, the user takes a hand of hair with her hand and carries it at the level of the arched chamfers 35, preferably placing the device as close as possible to the scalp. The chamfers 35 then slide the wick into the apparatus, the wick being automatically inserted between the parts: heater 3 and support 2 of the apparatus, separating them. The supporting parts 2 and heating 3 are separated adapting to the thickness of the wick and the variation of this wick in the length of its treatment surfaces. The user then moves the apparatus along the hair wick, from the root to the tip of the hair and this without having to exert an effort during straightening, the apparatus comprising a fixed frame box and the parts of support 2 and heater 3 in contact by the force of the magnetic field automatically adapting to the thickness of the wick.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate another variant embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. The apparatus is a straightening iron comprising a box made by the assembly of two envelopes 21 and 22, the rear part of the box thus forming a handle 4 extended towards the front part in its upper part with a fixed frame 1 comprising two parallel arms 9, 10 each supporting a support part 2, respectively a heating part 3. The support parts 2 and heating 3 each comprise an electric heating element 31 which can be a resistive heating element, CTP, infrared emission, etc. The heating element of each part is sandwiched between a plate that forms a treatment surface 17 respectively 18 of the hair and a bottom plate 40. An assembly of this type is limited at its tip by two stops 41, 42 and can be made in the form of a module in order to facilitate its assembly inside its respective box. Each stop 41.42 encloses a permanent magnet 11.12, the magnets being placed in the center of each limb. In a variant, two magnets are placed on the periphery of each end cap. The facing magnets are mounted in phase opposition (the north pole of a magnet 11 facing the south pole of a magnet 12). On the other hand, the apparatus comprises guiding means 20 which allow a displacement upwards, in the direction of the arm 9, of the support part 2, as well as a certain pivotal movement of the support part 2 about an axis contained in the plane of the treatment surface 17 when it is at rest. The apparatus also includes means for introducing the hair 7 between the support part 2 and the heating part 3, represented in this case by a detachment 45 of rounded edges 46 made at the level of the frontal extremities of the arms 9 and 10.

In a variant derived from the preceding one, a floating assembly can be considered not only of the support part 2, but also of the heating part 3.

In operation, after the device has been brought into temperature, the user enters her hair wick through the detachment 45 between the heating and supporting parts 2 of the device, preferably placing the device as close as possible to the scalp. The support plate 2 separates the magnets 11, 12 which continue to hold the support parts 2 and heater 3 pressed against each other. The support part 2 being placed on two,

or, in a variant, on four pairs of magnets, it adapts perfectly to the variations in thickness of the hair wicks to be treated. The user then moves the apparatus along the hair wick, from the root to the tip of the hair and this without having to exert an effort during straightening, the apparatus comprising a closed box and the supporting parts being kept 2 and heater 3 in contact by the force of the magnetic field adapting to the thickness of the wick.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, the heating part is a cylindrical or conical shaped mandrel and the support part has a treatment plate that adapts to the shape of the heating part, both of which are mounted in a fixed frame in The tip of a handle. The fixed frame comprises, as before, an upper arm that supports a floating mounted support part, for example using springs, or magnets mounted in phase with those of the box, etc., and provided with a rounded chamfer for introducing the hair. The fixed frame also comprises a lower arm which in turn supports the mounted mandrel, for example, fixed with respect to the lower arm of the frame. In operation, a wick is introduced through the front chamfer and wrapped around the mandrel. The support part separates adapting to the thickness of the rolled wick.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate an apparatus according to another variant embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprising a handle 4 extended towards the front by two parallel arms 9, 10 arranged symmetrically to one and another apart from the longitudinal axis of the handle 4. The arms 9, 10 are made in two separate pieces fixed together to form a frame 1 which in turn is fixed to the handle 4. The arms 9, 10 are extended towards the front by protective caps 47 made in the same plastic material as the arms 9,10 and covering the hot parts of the device. A support part 2 is supported in floating on the arm 9 using suspension means 5, represented in this case by two pairs of magnets 14, 15 mounted in phase (the north or south poles are facing), similar to those of Figure 1a for pushing the support part 2 in the direction of the heating part 3. In a variant, the suspension means 5 can be helical springs or parts made of a deformable material. The support part 2 is made like that of Figure 1 a, especially in the form of a module 29 comprising a plate 30 enclosing an electric heating element 31, for example of CTP, in thermal contact with the treatment surface 17 of the plate 30, all covered by a cap 33. The front part of the cap 33 has an arched chamfer 35 which facilitates the introduction of the hair at the level of the treatment part of the support part 2.

The heating part 3 of Figures 4a and 4b is modified to allow steam treatment of the hair, this comprises more particularly at the level of the treatment surface 18 of its plate 30, steam outlet holes 57 that comes from means of steam production 50 of the apparatus when these are operated by control means 59. The plate 30 encloses an electric heating element 31 mounted in thermal contact with the treatment surface 18 thereof, all covered by a plug 33 of arched chamfer 35.

As seen in Figure 4a, the steam production means 50 comprise a tank 51 containing a certain volume of water, the tank being closed by a lid 49 provided with a flexible membrane 52 and a purge hole not shown in the drawings. In a variant not shown in the drawings, a rigid-walled tank connected to an electromagnetic pump set up by a control button provided at the level of the handle 4 can be used. The tank 51 is connected by a water supply tube 53 and a non-return valve 54 to a duct 58 that flows through water inlets 56 into a vaporization chamber 55. The vaporization chamber 55 has a U-shaped cross section (see Fig. 4b), this surrounds the heating element electric 31. The vaporization chamber 55 is filled with a foam rubber that is soaked in the water reached by the inlets 56 to allow its rapid transformation into steam. The steam produced in the chamber 55 exits through holes 57, for example distributed in two parallel rows along the treatment surface 18 in the direction of the hair to be treated. Due to economic considerations and of better reliability in operation of the components of the steam production means, especially of resistance of the tube 53 and its tightness with the entrance in the duct 58, it is preferred to mount the heating part with respect to its housing , especially in solidarity with arm 10 of frame 1.

In operation, after bringing the device to a temperature, the user takes a hand of hair with her hand and carries it at the level of the chamfers 35, preferably placing the device as close as possible to the scalp. The arched chamfers 35 then slide the wick into the apparatus, the wick being automatically inserted between the parts: heater 3 and support 2 of the apparatus. By its floating assembly, the support part 2 is separated adapting to the thickness of the wick and the variation of this wick in the length of its treatment surface. The user can at this time press the flexible membrane 52 to send the arrival of water to the vaporization chamber 55 (or in a variant press the control button of a pump that sends the water to the steam chamber), being facilitated its gesture for the fact that it no longer has to put pressure on the box to close the device. The user then moves the device along the hair wick, from the root to the tip of the hair and this without having to exert an effort during straightening. The apparatus of

closed box and fixed frame thus allows the support parts 2 and heater 3 to be kept in contact by the force of the magnetic field while automatically adapting to the thickness of the treated wick.

Other variants and other embodiments of the invention can be considered without departing from the scope of its claims.

Thus, the magnetic field can be performed by replacing the permanent magnets with an electromagnet.

Claims (18)

1. Hairdressing apparatus comprising:

-

at least one heating part (3) that comes into contact with the hair by means of a facing support part (2),

-

a frame (1) comprising at least two arms (9,10), the parts being held together inside the fixed frame (1) being pushed towards each other at rest.

characterized because

-

at least one of the parts is mounted floating with respect to the respective arm (9, 10) using suspension means (5),

-

and because the apparatus comprises means for automatic introduction (7) of the hair between the heating part (3) and the support part (2).

2.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (1) comprises at least two arms (9, 10) substantially parallel joined together in one of the extremities, the heating part (3) and / or the one of support (2) floating in translation in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

3.

Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for introducing the hair (7) are formed in the extension of the heating part (3) and / or of the support part (2).

Four.

Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said frame (1) is attached to a handle (4) comprising a longitudinal axis (Y) and that the means for introducing (7) the hair are arranged in the opposite extremity to the handle (4), to one and another part of its longitudinal axis.

5.

Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said suspension means (5) are in relation to the strength of a magnetic field.

6.

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the support part (2) comprises at least a first permanent magnet (11) and that the heating part (3) is at least partly made of a magnetic material.

7.

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the support part comprises at least a first permanent magnet (11) cooperating with a second permanent magnet (12) facing the heating part mounted in phase opposition to the first.

8.

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the support part (2) or the heating part (3) comprises a first permanent magnet (14) cooperating with a second permanent permanent magnet (15) facing the frame (1) , the second permanent magnet (15) being mounted in phase with the first.

9.

Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said suspension means

(5) are elastic means.

10.

Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said suspension means (5) are arranged substantially at the level of each end of the support part (2) or of the heating part (3).

eleven.

Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (2) is heating.

12.

Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (2) or the heating part has a flat or undulating hair treatment surface (17,18).

13.

Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises guiding means (20) of the heating part or of the support part arranged according to the median plane perpendicular to the plane of the hair treatment surface or to one and another part of this plane .

14.

Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heating part (3) has a hair treatment surface that has a form of revolution and because the support part (2) has a treatment plate that adapts to the shape of the heating part.

fifteen.

Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the apparatus comprises radial guide means of the support part (2).

16. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means of command (59) to send steam at the level of at least one of the heating (3) or support (2) parts. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the control means (59) act on steam producing means (50) of the apparatus comprising a water tank (51) connected by a tube (53) to a vaporization chamber (55) that flows through steam outlet orifices (57) at the surface level of treatment (18) of the heating part (3). 18. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for regulating the force of the suspension means (5).